Method and mechanism for hoisting and stowing small boats



A g- 1964 R. c. ANDERSON METHOD AND MECHANISM FOR HOISTING AND swowmc SMALL BOATS Filed July 20, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Illl 5:

INVENTOCR. ,Puaomx/ a AIVQSQSUN Aug. 11, 1964 R. C. ANDERSON METHOD AND MECHANISM FOR HOISTING AND STOWING SMALL BOATS Filed July 20, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 90004634 6. A/VD-ES'd/V L BOATS Aug. 11, 1964 R. c. ANDERSON METHOD AND MECHANISM FOR HOISTING AND STOWING SMAL Filed July 20, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN'TOR. RUDOLPH a AA/mes'au United States Patent 3,143,991 METHOD AND MECHANISM FOR HOISTING A AND STOWING SMALL BOATS Rudolph C. Anderson, 2010 NW. Blue Ridge Drive, Seattle, Wash. Filed July 20, 1962, Ser. No. 211,367 21 Claims. (Cl. 114-435) The present invention relates to an improved technique for hoisting and stowing small boats, and to mechanisms for employing same. More particularly, the invention provides a manipulating technique and mechanism for simply and easily launching or hoisting a small boat in relation to a shelf area on a larger vessel or the like, the mechanism being characterized by what may be termed a bi-articulated, fold-back linkage between the aforesaid shelf area and a side of the small boat. T 0 illustrate the manner of operation and typical mechanisms characteristic of the invention, the description thereof herein is specifically related to its usage for handling a dinghy in relation to a power cruiser. It will be readily understood, however, that the invention has like utility with respect to the operation of any small (or daughter) marine craft stowed on and operated from a larger (or mother) marine vessel, dock, or the like.

Many marine power cruisers are equipped with small (say 8' or dinghies or the like. Conventionally, such cruisers have what is known as a transom shelf or step providing a shelf area extending rearwardly of the stern slightly above the Water, and it is customary to simply carry thedinghy stowed with one gunwale of the dinghy nested or cradled in chocks on the shelf. From such position, launching the dinghy is no problem, since it will simply drop in the Water when unsecured. However, it is often difficult for an occupant to board or disembark the dinghy safely. Also, replacement of the dinghy in its stowed position on the step is essentially a two-man operation, and can even be dangerous at times, in that the dinghy must be manually lifted from the water and placed on the chocks. I

Davit hoists and hoist booms have been used for the purpose, but are in many respects impractical for use on small power cruisers and the like, because of cost and complexity. i

The mechanism provided by the present invention enables single-handed, simple and rapid launching, recovery andstowage of the dinghy on the transom step, and also serves to hold the dinghy steady while an occupant boards or disembarks from the dinghy.

' These and other inherent characteristics, objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following discussion of certain illustrative forms thereof, taken together with the accompanying drawings, wherein like letters and numerals refer to like parts, and wherein: FIG. 1 is an isometric view showing a first form of "ice.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary isometric view of one portion of a further modified form of linkage and dinghy coupling arrangement characteristic of the invention.

In the form of the invention illustrated at FIGS. 1-5, dinghy D is shown bi-articulately linked to a shelf or step S extending rearwardly from the stern or transom of power cruiser C. The bi-articulated linkage mechanism, in the form thereof shown at FIGS. l-5, comprises a frame 10 of substantially U-shape providing a trunnion bar 12 extending transversely of cruiser C and also providing an opposed pair of articulated arms 14. Each of the arms 14 is pivotally connected to shelf S at about the rear edge 16 thereof by hinge means including a pair of forks 18 pivotally joined by pins 20 to the projecting eyes 22 of pad eyes 24 which are in turn suitably affixed to shelf S, as by bolts 26.

Trunnion bar 12 carries, near its extremities, a pair of rings 28 which are rotatable thereon and provide a pivotal, i.e. hinged, connection between said trunnion bar 12 and a pair of releasable coupling means such as clamps 30, which are selectively securable to the inboard gunwale 32 of dinghy D, as by means of threaded clamp bolts 34. In the arrangement shown, it will be noted further facilitate handling of the clamps 30 in coupling the invention as applied to a dinghy and the shelf equipped V stern of a power cruiser, with the bi-articulated linkage unfolded and the dinghy waterborne; v

' FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view of the arrangement shown in FIG. 1, with the unfolded attitude of the linkage being shown in full line, and with the fully folded, dinghy stowed position thereof being shown in broken line;

' FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 present various, somewhat schematic views to illustrate the dinghy hoisting and launching technique characteristic of the invention, and sequentially show successive positions of the linkage, dinghy and hauling lines in the hoistingand stowing evolution;

FIG. 6 is an isometric view similar to the view of FIG. 1, showing certain modified component forms of the invention, including a linkage involving a' step-type frame and also frame-to-dinghy coupling means especially adapted for usage in rough water; and

and decoupling the clamps 30 from the gunwale 32 of dinghy D. The specific design of rings 28 also includes eyes 38, to which are secured the branched end segments 40, 42, of inboard haul line 44, each of the said end segments 40, 42 being led to a respective eye ring 38. As will be apparent from the following discussion of the linkage manipulation, the haul line 44 for hoisting the linkage and inboard side of dinghy D can be connected to any suitable point desired for this purpose, such as to trunnion bar 12, to either of clamps 30, or to a point along the inboard gunwale 32 of the dinghy D. As will also be apparent, the angular manipulation of the articulated arms 14 can be effected in a heavy duty installation by suitable power means (not shown), Such as a hydraulic cylinder acting between the end of an arm 14' and a stern part of cruiser C above the shelf S.

Along with inboard haul line 44, a second haul line 46 is utilized, being led on board the cruiser C from a suitable attachment to the outboard side of dinghy D, as by eye 48 at the outboard gunwale 50.

FIGS. 3 through 5 serve to illustrate in more detail the dinghy hoisting technique utilizing the biarticulated linkage of the present invention. Starting from an initial position with the dinghy waterborne and linkage coupled to the shelf S, as shown in solid line in FIG. 3, the hoist ing and stowing sequence proceeds as follows. The biarticulated frame 10 is hoisted, as by taking in on inboard haul line 44, until the frame has pivoted upwardly sufficiently to lift the inboard side of dinghy D out of the water and support much of the Weight thereof, yet leave the outboard side of the dinghy at least partially waterborne, substantially as shown at FIG. 3 in broken line. Outboard haul line 46 can simply remain slack during this evolution. At this point it will be noted (FIG; 3)

i that inboard portions of the frame 10 have moved into this sequence, the dinghy D laterallytilts toward the cruiser C, moving about the pivot axis provided by pins 20, by virtue of the abutting relation of the linkage with the lower part of the inboard side of the dinghy. The lateral tilting of the dinghy D successively proceeds through the dinghy positions shown in solid line and in broken linein FIG. 4, with the bi-articulated linkage becoming fully folded on shelf S, and with the weight of the dinghy progressively aiding the tilting and linkage folding movement. Upon completion of the tilting movement, the dinghy nests against the stern edge of the cruiser C and is in a position with theoutboard gunwale 50 substantially directly above the inboard gunwale 32. The dinghy D is then stowed simply by securing the outboard line 46 to a suitably placed vcleat (not shown) or the like in the stern part of cruiser C.

To launch the dingby D from stowage, outboard line 46 is simply unsecured, and the upper part of the dinghy D is pushed outwardly (if necessary), whereupon the weight of the dinghy D causes a reverse tilting action and unfolding of the linkage, with the dinghy falling away and quickly assuming the waterborne position shown in solid line at FIG. 3, ready for boarding. An occupant of the dinghyD, then simply disengages clamps 30 from the gunwale 32 to cast off.

FIG. 6 serves to illustrate certain modified forms of linkage structure and haul line arrangement also typifying the invention. In this arrangement, a cast frame 60 of step-like rectangular configuration replaces the 'U- shaped frame 10 of the earlier-discussed form of the invention. Said frame 60 is pivotally connected to eye pads 62 on shelf S by means of pins 64 and eye forks 66, the latter being preferably integrally formed with said frame 60 along the inboard edge 68 thereof.

In the FIG. 6 arrangement, the pivotal and releasable coupling between the outboard edge 70 of frame 60 and dinghy D comprises a pair of eyes 72, 74, through which are led respective inboard haul lines 76, 78. Each of said haul lines 76, 78 is equipped with a snap hook, respectively indicated at 80, 82, releasably engageable with U bolts 84, 86 or the like at the inboard gunwale 32 of dinghy D. Said lines 76, 78 are advantageously also equipped with respective floats 88, 90 .neXt to hooks 80, 82, and of sufficient size to block passage of hooks 80, 82 through eyes 72, 74. As in the earlier-discussed arrangement, outboard haul line 46 led to eye 48 at the outboard gunwale 50 of dinghy D completes the haul line arrangement. As will be apparent, in 'FIG. 6, a fully foldable, bi-articulated linkage couples the stern shelf S and dinghy D, in that a first pivot axis is provided coincident with pins 64, and in that a second articulation is provided in the area of outboard edge 70 and inboard gunwale 32 of the dinghy so that when the frame 60 moves arcuately, pivotal movement between it and the dinghy D results simply by relative movement between hooks 80, 82 and U bolts 84, 86, and also by relative movement of lines 76, 78 at the points of connection thereof with the respective hooks 80, 82.

The inboard haul lines 76, 78, with the respective associated snap hooks 80, 82 and floats 88, 90 provide an operating feature quite important to certain usages of the bi-articulated linkage mechanism. Coupling of the waterborne dinghy D directly to the linkage mechanism (as by clamps 30) can sometimes be quite difficult when the water is rough or the cruiser is moving. The lines 76, 78, with associated hooks 80, 82 resolve this difficulty simply and effectively. 'With the dinghy in an approach position, one or both the lines 76, 78 are thrown to a dinghy occupant, who then attaches one or both the hooks 80, 82 to the respective U-bolts 84, 86, as the case may be. Then, with the line or lines 76, 78 led through the respective eyes 72, 74 (being there placed either before or after the hook carrying line ends are thrown), the lines 76, 78 are hauled in causing the dinghy D to be moved to the position shown at FIG. 6. It can then be there held by keeping lines 76, 78 taut until the dinghy occupant or occupants disembark, after which the inboard side of the dinghy D is hoisted to the position shown in broken line in FIG. 3, simply by continuing to haul in on the lines 76, 78. The lines 76, 78 can of course be of any desired length, and can serve to haul the dinghy alongside from an approach position of considerable distance from the cruiser C. Floats 88, 90, contiguous to the books 80, 82, provide an effective means for maintaining the hooks at the surface and in ready reach of a dinghy occupant when the haul lines 76, 78 are cast to the approaching dinghy.

Eye pads 62 are provided rearwardly with depending frame stops 92, arranged to abut the inboard edge 94 of frame 60 when the frame 60 is fully unfolded. The frame 60 can thus serve as a Weight'supporting extension, in effect, of the shelf S whether or not outboardly coupled to a dinghy D.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view, serving to illustrate yet another form of linkage mechanism characteristic of the invention. In this form, the bi-articulated linkage comprises a wooden frame having a pair of movable arm members (one being shown), joined together by a plurality of rods 102 (fragmentarily shown). Inboardly, the arms 100 are mounted to pivot on and be foldable back on a pair of base members 104 (one being shown) which are suitably attached to shelf S, as by bolts 106. 'Outboardly, the arms 100 terminate in snap hooks 108 (one being shown) which are releasably engageable with respective U-bolts 110 (one being shown) or the like at the inboard gunwale 32 of dinghy D. As will be evident, the pivotal connections between the arms 100 and the base members 104 provide an inboard articulation of the arms 100 with respect to the shelf S, and the releasable interconnections between the hooks 108 and the U-bolts 112 provide the outboard articulation characteristic of the invention.

The wooden frame construction involving arm members 100 and rods 102 imparts a degree of bending resiliency to the frame, enabling the frame to flex when the framecoupled, waterborne dingy pitches.

In the form of the invention shown in FIG. 7, as in the other for-ms shown, the length of arms 100 should about equal the keel-to-gunwale height dimension of the dinghy D so that the initial hoisting of the inboard dinghy will occur substantially as shown in broken line in Insummary, it will be'seen that the small board manip ulating mechanism of the invention is advantageously designed to enable recovery, hoisting and stowing of the small boat by a hoisting sequence involving the initial hoisting of the small boat one side at a time, the inboard side being hoisted first and at least partly supported out of the water by a pivoted frame fulcrumed about a pivot axis at about the rearedge of the shelf area on which the small boat is to be stowed. Then, with the inboard side of the small boat partially hoisted, the outboard side thereof is hoisted by tilting of the small boat toward the mother vessel about the same axis, until the small boat is laterally upright, with much of the weight thereof being supported on the folded linkage and the shelf during the latter tilting operation. When the small boat is secured in such laterally upright, shelf supported position with the linkage still fully connected and securely folded back on the shelf, the small boat can then be quickly launched and boarded at any time simply by unsecuring the upper portion thereof, whereupon the small boat launches gravi-tationallywith a reverse tilting action and remains securely coupled to the shelf area of the mother vessel so that it can be safely boarded and selectively cast off by the small boat operator when ready.

From the foregoing considerations as to the basic manner of operation and certain typical constructional forms and variations of the invention, further modificationsthereof will readily occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention is addressed, within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. The method of hoisting a small boat onto a shelf area from an initially waterborne position alongside the shelf area, said method comprising:

(a) linking the near side of the small boat to said shelf area by a bi-articulated fold-back linkage with the said linkage unfolded;

I (b) raising the near side of the small boat out of the water to a point where the said linkage is partially folded and partially supports the weight of the small boat; and then (0) raising the far side of the small boat out of the water, causing the small boat to laterally tilt toward the shelf area until the said linkage is fully folded onto said shelf area.

2. The method of hoisting a small boat onto a shelf area from an initially waterborne position alongside the shelf area, said method comprising:

(a) linking a gunwale of the small boat to said shelf area by a bi-articulated fold-back linkage with the said linkage unfolded;

(b) raising the first side of the small boat out of the water to a point where the said linkage is partially folded and abuts the first side of the small boat below the gunwale thereof with part of the weight of the small boat being supported by the partially folded linkage; and then (c) raising the other side of the small boat out of the water, causing the small boat to laterally tilt toward the shelf area until the said linkage is fully folded onto said shelf area.

3. The method of manipulating a small boat from an initially waterborne position alongside a larger boat and stowing the same on a shelf area of the larger boat, said method comprising:

(a) coupling the inboard side of the small boat to said shelf area by a bi-articulated, foldback linkage with the said linkage unfolded;

- (b) raising the inboard side of the small boat out of the water to a point where the said linkage is partially folded and abuts the side of the small boat below the linkage coupling thereto, with part of the weight of the small boat being supported by the partially folded linkages; then (0) raising the outboard side of the small boat out of the water, causing the small boat to laterally tilt toward the larger boat and causing the weight of the small boat to further fold said linkage until the outboard gunwale thereof is substantially directly above its inboard gunwale, with the entire weight of the small boat on the folded linkage; and

(d) stowing the small boat in the thus tilted position above said shelf area by securing the upper part of the small boat to the larger boat.

4. The method of manipulating a dinghy or the like from an initially waterborne position alongside a boat and stowing the same on a shelf area of the boat, said method comprising:

(a) bi-articulately coupling the near gunwale of the dinghy to said shelf area by a fold-back linkage with the said linkage unfolded;

(b) raising the near side of the boat out of the water to a point where the said linkage is almost vertical and abuts the side of the dinghy below the near gunwale thereof, with part of the weight of the dinghy being thereby supported by said linkage; then (0) raising the far side of the dinghy out of the water, causing the dinghy to laterally tilt toward the boat and causing the Weight of the dinghy to further fold said linkage until the far gunwale thereof is substantially directly above the near gunwale, with the entire weight of the dinghy on the folded linkage and shelf area; and

(d) stowing the dinghy in the thus tilted position by securing the upper part of the dinghy to the boat.

(d) securing the line to a gunwale of the small boat;

(e) hauling in the line until the line closely and ar-' ticulately couples the gunwale of the small boat to.

the outboard side of the foldback linkage;

(f) disembarking the small boat;

(g) continuing to haul in the line to raise the near side of the small boat out of the water to a point where the said linkage is partially folded and of itself supports part of the weight of the small boat; and then (It) raising the far side of the small boat out of the Water, causing the small boat to laterally tilt toward the shelf area and causing the weight of the small boat to fully fold said linkage until the entire weight of the small boat is on the folded linkage and shelf area.

6. In combination:

(a) a small boat;

(b) an above-water substantially horizontal shelf area to which the small boat is hoisted and stowed;

(c) linkage means including a frame articulately connected to said shelf area at one side, and articulately and releasably coupled on the other side to a side of the small boat, said frame being movable to unfold from and to fold back on said shelf area;

(d) means for hoisting the side of said frame next to the small boat while leaving the far side of the small boat in the water; and

(e) means for thereafter laterally tilting the small boat onto the shelf area while the near side thereof is at least partially supported by said linkage means and shelf area. 7. The combination comprising:

(a) a mother vessel provided with asubstantially horizontal shelf area;

(b) a daughter vessel normally carried on board the mother vessel and used from time to time to disembark from the mother vessel; and

(0) means for manipulating said daughter vessel to and from being stowed and being waterborne, said latter means comprising: a frame extending longitudinally of said shelf area and pivotally hinged thereto along its inboard side to unfold outboardly from and fold back onto the said shelf area of the mother vessel through an arc of at least about and means pivotally and releasably coupling the outboard side of said frame to a side of said daughter vessel.

8. In combination with a dinghy equipped marine vessel having an above-Water substantially horizontal shelf receiving the dinghy for stowage; dinghy hoisting means comprising:

(a) a substantially rigid frame;

(11) means hinging one side of said frame to said shelf so that said frame can either extend outwardly from or be folded back on said shelf;

(0) means articulately connecting the opposite side of said frame to a side of said dinghy, including releasable coupling means permitting the dinghy to be cast off from the frame;

(d) a first haul means led on board the said vessel from the dinghy side of said frame whereby the near side of said dinghy can be hoisted clear of the water while the far side thereof is left in the water; and

(e) a second haul means led on board the said vessel from the far side of said dinghy whereby the dinghy can be laterally tilted to a substantially laterally upright position above said shelf with the near side 7 of the dinghy at least partially supported by said frame and shelf.

9. The combination of claim 8, wherein said frame is of generally U-shaped configuration.

10. The combination of claim 9, wherein the U-shaped frame configuration includes pivot arms each articulately hinged to said shelf at one end and each joined to the other at the other end by a trunnion rod, said trunnion rod in turn rotatably carrying the said releasable coupling means.

11. The combination of claim 8, wherein said frame is cast in .generally rectangular form.

12. The combination of claim 8, wherein said frame is principally of wood construction, with parallel arm members joined by a plurality of parallel rods extending longitudinally of the frame.

13. The combination of claim 8, wherein said releasable coupling means comprises dinghy gunwale engaging clamps.

14. The combination of claim 8, wherein the frameto-dinghy articulate connection includes releasable coupling means comprising snap hook means engaging eye means afiixed to the side of the dinghy.

15. Mechanism for bringing a small boat alongside and hoisting the same onto an above-water shelf area for stowage, said mechanism comprising:

(a) a fold-back linkage including a frame extending horizontally of and articulately connected along one side to the said shelf area so as to be pivotally movable at least about 180 with respect to said shelf area;

(b) a haul line led through an opening in the frame on the side thereof opposite from such articulate connection; and

(c) means for releasably securing the end of said haul line to the side of the small boat.

16. Mechanism according to claim 15, wherein the said releasable securing means comprises a snap hook at the end of said haul line, and an eye affixed to the side of said small boat.

17. Mechanism according to claim 15, further comprising float means near the end of said haul line releasably secured to said small boat.

18. In combination with a marine power boat having an above-water, transom placedsubstantially horizontal shelf and a dinghy periodically hoisted andstowed on saidshelf:

(a)-a substantially rigid frame of a width dimension approximately equal to the keel-to-gunwale height 5. dimension of said dinghy;

(b) hinging means connectingone side of said frame to said'shelf at about the rear edge of said shelf, said hinging means rendering the frame pivotally movable to unfold from or fold back on said shelf;

() means articulately connecting the opposite side of said frame to a side of said dinghy, including releasable means so that the dinghy can be cast off from the frame;

(a') a first haul line means led on board the said boat from the dinghy side of said frame whereby the side of said dinghy next to the frame can be hoisted while the far side of said dinghy is left in the water; and

(e) .a second haul line means led on board the said boat from the far side of said dinghy whereby the dinghy can then be laterally tilted to a substantially laterally upright position onrsaid shelf to place the said frame in fully folded relation to the shelf.

7 19. The combination of claim 18, wherein the articulated connection means between the frame and dinghy comprises the end of said first haul line. means, secured to the side of said dinghy and led through an opening at the dinghy sideof said frame.

20. The combination of claim 19, wherein the said haul. line means end carries snap hook means and float means, the latter being of larger diameter than said frame pcn 21. The combination of claim 18, wherein the said first haul line means comprises two haul lines, each led ghrough a separate opening at the dinghy side of said rame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Earle Jan. 10, 1882 2,294,864 Palmer Sept. 1, 1942 2,465,118 .Platt Mar. 22, 1949 2,473,557 Woodrulf June 2, 1949 2,943,591 Schneider July 5, 1949 

6. IN COMBINATION: (A) A SMALL BOAT; (B) AN ABOVE-WATER SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTALLY SHELF AREA TO WHICH THE SMALL BOAT IS HOISTED AND STOWED; (C) LINKAGE MEANS INCLUDING A FRAME ARTICULATELY CONNECTED TO SAID SHELF AREA AT ONE SIDE, AND ARTICULATELY AND RELEASABLY COUPLED ON THE OTHER SIDE TO A SIDE OF THE SMALL BOAT, SAID FRAME BEING MOVABLE TO UNFOLD FROM AND TO FOLD BACK ON SAID SHELF AREA; 